Martin Chuzzlewit

The Chuzzlewits are a family divided by money and selfishness; even young Martin, the eponymous hero, is arrogant and self-centred. He offends his grandfather by falling in love with the latter’s ward, Mary, and sets out to make his own fortune in life, travelling as far as America - which produces from Dickens a savage satire on a new world tainted with the vices of the old. Martin’s nature slowly changes through his bitter experience of life and his enduring love for Mary.

Dombey and Son

Dombey and Son is vintage Dickens and explores the classic themes of betrayal, cruelty and deceit. Dombey's dysfunctional relationships are painted against a backdrop of social unrest in industrialized London, which is populated by a host of fascinating and memorable secondary characters. The complete and unabridged novel is brought spectacularly to life by veteran reader David Timson.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Provoking an unprecedented outpouring of public grief when it was first published, it follows the story of Little Nell and her feckless grandfather. Forced to leave their magical shop of curiosities in London, they are pursued across the English countryside by the grotesquely evil dwarf Quilp. They escape - but at what cost?

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit is Amy, born in debtor’s prison, the youngest child of debtor William Dorrit, an inmate of the Marshalsea. The two are befriended by a man whose wife hires Little Dorrit as a seamstress. When William Dorrit inherits a fortune, he escapes the Marshalsea. The family, assuming a station befitting their wealth, travel to Italy.

Our Mutual Friend

A mysterious boatman on the Thames, a drowned heir, a dustman and his wife, and a host of other Dickens characters populate this novel of relationships between the classes, money, greed, and love. The 58 characters are presented with remarkable clarity by David Timson.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Left unfinished after Dickens died in 1870, The Mystery of Edwin Drood centers on Edwin Drood's uncle, John Jasper, and his love for Rosa Bud, Edwin's fiancee. Set in the dark, fictional cathedral city of Cloisterham, the novel is awash with guilt, disguise and mystery. It contains some fine writing, and just before his death, Dickens left an indication of where the plot was going, which is included.

Nicholas Nickleby

The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens's novels, Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in 19th-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman's son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens's pantheon.

Hard Times

Hard Times is Dickens's most political novel. Set in the industrial north of England, in Coketown, he examines the lives of working people, who are taught by the capitalists Gradgrind and Bounderby to think only of the facts of life and not to indulge in imagination. Gradgrind’s own children have been so educated and as a result are dysfunctional and disconnected from their feelings. Only the travelling circus company of Sleary seems to offer any hope of humanity in Coketown.

Bleak House

A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.

The Pickwick Papers

The Pickwick Papers, Dickens's first novel, is a delightful romp through the pre-Reform Bill England of 1827. Samuel Pickwick and the rest of the Pickwickians are some of the most memorable of all Dickens's creations, and it is a joy to hear of their adventures in search of "interesting scenes and characters", and the repeated efforts of the quick-witted Sam Weller to rescue them all from disaster.

Martin Chuzzlewit

Originally serialized between 1843-1844 the story tells of Martin, the grandson of old Martin Chuzzlewit who is rich but has become bittter due to the greed of his kin. Young Martin is initially selfish but through hard labour and the positive and cheerful influence of his servant, Tapley, becomes decent. The novel is broken up into segments by young Martin's voyage to seek his fortune in America.

Dombey and Son

In this carefully crafted novel, Dickens reveals the complexity of London society in the enterprising 1840s as he takes the listener into the business firm and home of one of its most representative patriarchs, Paul Dombey.

David Copperfield [Audible]

Between his work on the 2014 Audible Audiobook of the Year, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, and his performance of Classic Love Poems, narrator Richard Armitage (The Hobbit, Hannibal) has quickly become a listener favorite. Now, in this defining performance of Charles Dickens' classic David Copperfield, Armitage lends his unique voice and interpretation, truly inhabiting each character and bringing real energy to the life of one of Dickens' most famous characters.

Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life

When her father assassinates Henry Carson, his employer's son and Mary's admirer, suspicion falls on Mary's second admirer, Jem, a fellow worker. Mary has to prove her lover's innocence without incriminating her own father.

The Wings of the Dove

Milly Theale is a young, beautiful, and fabulously wealthy American. When she arrives in London and meets the equally beautiful but impoverished Kate Croy, they form an intimate friendship. But nothing is as it seems: materialism, romance, self-delusion, and ultimately fatal illness insidiously contaminate the glamorous social whirl.

Can You Forgive Her?

Can You Forgive Her? is the first of the six Palliser novels. Here Trollope examines parliamentary election and marriage, politics and privacy. As he dissects the Victorian upper class, issues and people shed their pretenses under his patient, ironic probe.

Daniel Deronda

Meeting by chance at a gambling hall in Europe, the separate lives of Daniel Deronda and Gwendolen Harleth are immediately intertwined. Daniel, an Englishman of uncertain parentage, becomes Gwendolyn's redeemer as she finds herself drawn to his spiritual and altruistic nature after a loveless marriage. But Daniel's path was already set when he rescued a young Jewess from suicide.

The Warden: Timothy West Version

The first novel of six in Trollope's series of the Chronicles of Barsetshire introducing the fictional cathedral town of Barchester and the characters of Septimus Harding, the Warden, and his son-in-law Archdeacon Grantly. The Warden concerns the moral dilemma of the conscientious Reverend Septimus Harding, who finds himself at the centre of a bitter conflict between defenders of Church privilege and the reformers of the mid-Victorian period.

Publisher's Summary

Dickens' first historical novel is set in 1780s England at the time of the Gordon Riots. In a case of mistaken identification, Barnaby Rudge, a pale half-wit with long red hair who dresses all in green and carries a large raven on his back, is arrested as the leader of a mob of anti-Catholic rioters. He is condemned to death on the gallows, but an upright locksmith named Gabriel Varden comes to his aid.

Dickens provides another memorable cast of characters, including the dull-witted, tyrannical John Willet, Dennis the Hangman, and Hugh the savage ostler.

(P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the Critics Say

"Robert Whitfield['s] unflagging energy, imagination, and finesse rank this among the best of audio Dickens." (Library Journal)

"Barnaby Rudge" is possibly Dickens's least well-known novel among modern readers. Hollywood has ignored it: there's a 1915 silent film version, a 1960 BBC version, and that's it. There are reasons for this: the novel makes an awkward 5-year jump in the middle, sends major characters off-stage for hundreds of pages, and is in general more padded with extraneous material and long conversations than it needs to be. Even if you're a Dickens fan, you might prefer an abridged version as an audiobook.

But the full version has its rewards. Over time, characters who initially seemed flat and stereotyped take on true psychological depth. The best of them are among the best in Dickens--no one has created a better picture of genteel hypocrisy than Sir John Chester, for example. There are magnificent descriptions of 18th-century inns and an imaginative recreation of London after dark, pre-gaslight. And the historical portions, the depiction of Lord Gordon, the rioters, and the anarchy they unleash on London, are as compelling as the better-known counterparts in "Tale of Two Cities".

Whitfield's narration and voice characterization is excellent throughout, despite a couple of annoying idiosyncrasies (notably, the way he handles "Why" as an exclamation). Audio quality of the file is excellent (enhanced format).

Lighter characters are not as prominent as in better known Dickens' novels, so this is not as heart warming as usual; however, I thought it just as good as any Dickens and, as an historical tale, I liked it better than "Tale of Two Cities." There is less domestic melodrama, but the usual Dickens' cast of characters and stereotypes: overbearing-martyr-complex wife, shrew, feral young man, sensible young woman, beautiful but silly young woman, honourable rich young man, put-upon striving poor young man, and not one but two selfish, narcissistic fathers -- And Barnaby. And Grip -- all embroiled in political and social machination.

Dickens' usual insight into human nature is sharp thoughout: "So do the shadows of our own desires stand between us and our better angels" -- No psychologist ever described projection, scapegoating, mob mentality, and political manipulation as well as well as Dickens does in "Barnaby Rudge."

Most characters still live happily ever after in the end, however, as the spoiler in the publisher's summary suggests.

Whitfield's narration is excellent as usual.

(And this is a must listen for all fans of ravens, literary or avian.)

This was a long story, with many characters. I lost parts of the story along my commute as there are numerous conversations with the characters, which didn't appear to have meaning, but come together in the end. I had to relisten to parts of the book to keep up with the story. The narrator was fantastic with his ability to change characters manners and age which is part of Dickens work. I preferred the end of the book much more as that is where the riots and drama evolves. It lacked some of the mystery of his famous classical works like Twist and Great Expectations, but to me the last 20 chapters brought it all together. The characters and accents were excellently done with the likes of Dennis the Hangman, and the Gabriel the locksmith, the idiot Barnaby, and almost human Grip. If you like Dickens you should like this one.

The comforting literary superfluities one comes to expect in a Dickens novel are present in full force in Barnaby Rudge. A good history lesson peopled by interesting characters and detailed story line. A great book, by a great author, read by a great narrator. What more can one hope for. Highly recommended.

The narration and story are excellent, but there are a number of faults in the recording in the second the third files. These have been reported to audible (they have verified and acknowledge that there are errors in the files) but I see that they continue to have this for sale. Please note that, if you choose to buy this, it will not be perfect. You will be able to listen to the whole story but there will be jumps in the narration at places. I have given one star to draw attention to this problem.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Richard

LEICESTER, United Kingdom

4/9/13

Overall

"A clever, informative story, slow to get going"

Great narration by Simon Vance throughout and an entertaining and informative story. Some great satire, observations and philosophy and some tense, exciting action. Just takes a while to get going compared to some other Dickens stories

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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